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Toughest Bowl Oppenents for ISU / Iowa in recent years

I have always thought that two of I-States best teams were screwed by the bowl selection process. I-State had to play two top ten teams and had I-State one they would not have received any national recognition because the teams they played are not big name schools. Iowa on the other hand played against teams that were ranked and their ranking had a lot to do with their name. When Iowa wins those games they received a lot of (at least in the minds of Iowa fans) National respect.

This is how I would rank the opponents that I-State and Iowa have played in recent years (ranking before bowl game).

1. USC - USC wins easily
2. Boise State - I-State loses at the home of a top 10 team
3. TCU - I-State should have won this game, but loses to another 10 top team at their place
4. LSU - Iowa wins
5. Florida - Iowa wins easily
6. Pittsburg - I-State wins
7. Texas - Iowa loses
8. Alabama - I-State actually won this game
9. Texas Tech - Iowa wins

I realize if I-State wins more you get to play big name schools but it sucks when you have to play a top 10 team and you get no respect if you win.

Re: Toughest Bowl Oppenents for ISU / Iowa in recent years

I agree with your assessment of the situation but maybe not your ranking of the teams. However, think about the teams that faced us and ended up being Top 10 to finish the year. They probably feel like they got the shaft for having to place us over another program.

Re: Toughest Bowl Oppenents for ISU / Iowa in recent years

One minor correction: the TCU game was in Houston, but TCU is located in Fort Worth, so technically it wasn't "their place." But it was only a three-hour drive for them instead of a 15-hour drive for ISU fans. But I digress.

Part of the problem is here is that the Big Ten has excellent bowl tie-ins, mostly against teams from the eastern half of the US, which includes major conferences like the SEC, Big East, and ACC. The Big 12 does not have many good bowl tie-ins, outside of the Cotton, Holiday, and Alamo bowls. And what's irritating is that the Alamo Bowl picks about the No. 6 team from the Big 10 but about the No. 3 team from the Big 12. This is why Iowa can get into the Alamo Bowl with 6 wins but we'd need to win at least 8 or 9 games to be eligible for it.

Re: Toughest Bowl Oppenents for ISU / Iowa in recent years

This has got to be one of the biggest WTF threads...

Chuck Lidell: I paint my toenails with pink and black polish. Problem is, I get more paint on my toes and on the carpet than on my nails. Any advice?Maria Sharapova: Don't you beat up other guys for a living? I don't know how to answer this.

Re: Toughest Bowl Oppenents for ISU / Iowa in recent years

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

This has got to be one of the biggest WTF threads...

You may be correct, but I think the point I am trying to make is this. Iowa beats two teams that were actually not that good, but they get national respect because of their name (and we have to hear about it). We lost to two very good teams and had we won those games we still would not have received national respect.

Re: Toughest Bowl Oppenents for ISU / Iowa in recent years

Originally Posted by dundermifflin

You may be correct, but I think the point I am trying to make is this. Iowa beats two teams that were actually not that good, but they get national respect because of their name (and we have to hear about it). We lost to two very good teams and had we won those games we still would not have received national respect.

We'll get national respect when we deserve it, till then I choose not to whine about it.

Re: Toughest Bowl Oppenents for ISU / Iowa in recent years

Originally Posted by cardinal&gold

Part of the problem is here is that the Big Ten has excellent bowl tie-ins, mostly against teams from the eastern half of the US, which includes major conferences like the SEC, Big East, and ACC. The Big 12 does not have many good bowl tie-ins, outside of the Cotton, Holiday, and Alamo bowls.

On years when the Big 12 get in the Gator Bowl I would consider that to be a good bowl as well. But still not near what the Big 10 gets for its top bowls.

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